Monica Lewinsky And Bill Clinton Affair: Former White House Intern Reveals All

Monica Lewinsky And Bill Clinton Affair: Former White House Intern Reveals All

Monica Lewinsky - the former White House intern who famously had an affair with president Bill Clinton - has written about their relationship for the first time and claims although the relationship was consensual, in the end she felt she was taken "advantage" of.

The 1998 scandal was initially denied by Clinton - "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" - and led to his impeachment, however he was later acquitted of all charges.

Now, Lewinsky - who was 22-years-old at the time affair was made public - has opened up about her side of the story, writing in Vanity Fair: "I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton. Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened."

The magazine has revealed an excerpt from her story - and here's what she has to say about the affair that is still affecting her life nearly two decades later.

On her relationship with Bill Clinton

Lewinsky says Clinton and his administration made her their "scapegoat" in the media and political frenzy that followed the affair.

"Sure, my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship," she writes. "Any 'abuse' came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position."

On getting a job after the affair

Unsurprisingly, Lewinsky found navigating the job market afterwards more than a little tricky. Despite interviewing for many roles in charity, she was usually unsuccessful due to what potential future employers would refer to as her "history".

"I was never 'quite right' for the position," she writes. "In some cases, I was right for all the wrong reasons, as in 'Of course, your job would require you to attend our events.' And, of course, these would be events at which press would be in attendance."

On Beyonce

So, yep, Lewnisky's got beef with Queen Bey's lyrics in her single 'Partition'. In fairness to her, we'd probably want accuracy if our story had been in the papers and satirised a million times too.

She writes: "Thanks, Beyoncé, but if we're verbing, I think you meant 'Bill Clinton'd all on my gown,' not 'Monica Lewinsky'd.'" So there.

On the future

Lewinsky now wants to help "victims of online humiliation and harassment and to start speaking on this topic in public forums". She believes she was probably the first person to be globally humiliated by the internet and gets what other people experiencing this are going through.

Want to read the full feature? Vanity Fair hits the newsstands on May 8th.

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